Eyelid eversion tool

Abstract

An eyelid eversion tool and a pair of disposable grippers for use with an eyelid eversion tool is described. The eyelid eversion tool includes a first arm and a second arm extending from a common joint end, the arms each, respectively, having a distal end opposite the common joint end; a first gripper fitted to the distal end of the first arm, the first gripper having a contact surface on an inward facing side thereof; and a second gripper fitted to the distal end of the second arm, the second gripper having a contact surface on an inward facing side thereof, where the contact surfaces face each other and are spaced apart, and the contact surfaces come into contact when the arms are compressed together, and where at least one of the grippers has an extender tab protruding from an outward facing side opposite its contact surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An eyelid eversion tool comprising:
 a first arm and a second arm extending along respective longitudinal axes from a common joint end, the first arm and the second arm each, respectively, having a distal end opposite the common joint end; 
 a first gripper configured to be friction fit to the distal end of the first arm, the first gripper having a contact surface on an inward facing side thereof; and 
 a second gripper configured to be friction fit to the distal end of the second arm, the second gripper having a contact surface on an inward facing side thereof, 
 wherein the contact surfaces face each other and are spaced apart, and the contact surfaces come into contact when the first arm and the second arm are compressed with respect to one another, and 
 wherein at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper has an extender tab aligned parallel to one of the respective longitudinal axes and protruding radially outward from an outward facing side of the at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper opposite its contact surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , wherein the common joint end is fused and provides elastic deformation when the arms are compressed with respect to one another. 
     
     
       3. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , wherein the common joint end is hinged and resiliently biased in an open position to provide mechanical resistance when the arms are compressed with respect to one another. 
     
     
       4. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a first handgrip on the first arm and a second handgrip on the second arm, the first handgrip and the second handgrip each, respectively, disposed between a distal end and the common joint end, wherein the first handgrip and the second handgrip are partially rounded to provide ease of rotation to a user of the tool. 
     
     
       5. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 4 , wherein the first handgrip and the second handgrip are semi-cylindrical in shape and each handgrip extends axially along a length of its respective arm, and wherein the first handgrip and the second handgrip together form a cylindrical shape when the arms are compressed with respect to one another and the contact surfaces come into contact. 
     
     
       6. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first gripper and the second gripper has a keyed axial bore, and wherein each of the first arm and the second arm has a corresponding keyed profile matching the keyed axial bore. 
     
     
       7. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 6 , wherein the first gripper and the second gripper are made of silicone. 
     
     
       8. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 7 , wherein the first gripper and the second gripper are disposable. 
     
     
       9. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface of the first gripper defines a groove extending longitudinally parallel to a first of the respective longitudinal axes along which the first arm extends and the contact surface of the second gripper defines a raised tongue extending longitudinally parallel to a second of the respective longitudinal axes along which the second arm extends, and wherein the tongue fits into the groove when the contact surfaces come into contact. 
     
     
       10. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding extender tab is shaped to narrow at an arcuate tip from a wider base at the outward facing side of the at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper. 
     
     
       11. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 1 , wherein the respective longitudinal axes define a plane and wherein the extender tab lies in the plane. 
     
     
       12. The eyelid eversion tool of  claim 11 , wherein the extender tab is centered in the plane. 
     
     
       13. A pair of grippers for use with an eyelid eversion tool, the eyelid eversion tool having a first arm and a second arm extending along respective longitudinal axes from a common joint end, each of the first arm and second arm having a distal end opposite the common joint end, the pair of disposable grippers comprising:
 a first gripper having a first central axis and configured to be friction fit along a first of the respective longitudinal axes onto the distal end of the first arm and having a contact surface on a first side thereof; and 
 a second gripper having a second central axis and configured to be friction fit along a second of the respective longitudinal axes onto the distal end of the second arm and having a contact surface on a first side thereof, 
 wherein at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper has an extender tab aligned parallel its central axis and protruding radially from a second side opposite its contact surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The pair of grippers of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first gripper and the second gripper has a keyed axial bore extending longitudinally and shaped to receive a corresponding keyed profile of the distal end of the first arm or second arm when being friction fit. 
     
     
       15. The pair of grippers of  claim 14 , wherein the first gripper and the second gripper are made of silicone. 
     
     
       16. The pair of grippers of  claim 13 , wherein the contact surface of the first gripper defines a groove extending longitudinally along a length of the first gripper and the contact surface of the second gripper defines a raised tongue extending longitudinally along a length of the second gripper, and wherein the tongue fits into the groove when the contact surfaces come into contact. 
     
     
       17. The pair of grippers of  claim 13 , wherein the extender tab is shaped to narrow at an arcuate tip from a wider base at the second side of the at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper. 
     
     
       18. An eyelid eversion kit, comprising:
 an eyelid eversion tool, including a first arm and a second arm extending along respective longitudinal axes from a common joint end, the first arm and the second arm each, respectively, having a distal end opposite the common joint end; 
 a first gripper configured to be friction fit onto the distal end of the first arm, the first gripper having a contact surface on an inward facing side thereof; and 
 a second gripper configured to be friction fit onto the distal end of the second arm, the second gripper having a contact surface on an inward facing side thereof, 
 
       wherein the contact surfaces face each other and are spaced apart, and the contact surfaces come into contact when the first arm and the second arm are compressed with respect to one another, and 
       wherein at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper has an extender tab aligned parallel one of the respective longitudinal axes and protruding radially outward from an outward facing side of the at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper opposite its contact surface. 
     
     
       19. The eyelid eversion kit of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first gripper and the second gripper has a keyed axial bore, and wherein each of the first arm and the second arm has a corresponding keyed profile matching the keyed axial bore.